forest school leader traineeship
next round starting may 2026
we launched our fully funded vocational traineeship for aspiring forest school leaders four years ago to support equity and diversity in outdoor education and to meet the growing need for skilled nature-based facilitators — creating greater access, impact, and diversity in the sector. a key requirement for each trainee is the commitment to deliver their own provision post training, ensuring that this work is able to have a wider impact.
our spring 2026 traineeship is now closed for applications. our next traineeship is due to start in october 2026
join our mailing list below to be the first to hear when applications open
if you are not eligible for the traineeship, you could consider signing up for a place on our forest school leader training
about the traineeship
we recognise that the ‘forest school’ industry does not reflect or represent the population of the uk, and more specifically of east london. we also recognise that there are structural, institutional and economic barriers to reaching and gaining the education and training needed to work in this sector. we seek to renew the systems in place that prevent opportunities like this being open to all, by prioritising diversity and providing economic support in an industry where unpaid time, volunteering and self-funded education is the norm.
this opportunity is open to anyone who:
needs a stepping-stone in their career
might otherwise not be able to access the training
meets the eligibility criteria
see what our 2024-25 cohort got up to on their initial training week here
read anand’s traineeship success story below. read the stories of what led two of our previous trainees - karen & wren ~ to embark on their forest school journey
anand is a trainee from our last cohort who undertook our traineeship and became a part of the kin team during the early stages of his training.
"hello there, i’m anand. i’m a forest school practitioner who is interested in patiently cultivating transformative community spaces that enliven us to the wild world around us. i also make playful art experiments that grapple with what entangles me in this city life and the natural world where i find peace. in this blog i’d like to share a little bit about the kin level 3 forest school leader traineeship and how it has enchanted, enriched, and transformed me as a person as well as what i offer to the world..."
read more of anand's deeply inspiring words via the button below.
meet our trainee ~ anand
details
each trainee will receive a training bundle equivalent in value of to £2500. this traineeship will comprise of the following:
forest school leader (level 3) training: course page
16 hrs. first aid paediatric outdoor qualification: training page here
natural musicians & story telling - chris holland here
work experience on one of our camps
mentorship from kin
places offered on an application basis ~ sign up to our mailing list here to be the first to know when applications open
this training programme has been generously sponsored by a friend of kin
“the traineeship experience was one of awe and wonder. we learned so many useful practical outdoor skills such as lighting fires and cooking over them, whittling, putting up shelters, knots and other bushcraft. each day was timeless and extremely soul nourishing. the course facilitators were so lovely and accommodating. there was a very cheerfully playful energy amongst the group during the training. i also was given the chance to carry out work experience onsite at kin and was then offered some paid work. i’m soon to be a qualified forest school leader and intend to carry this space with me wherever i go. i am eternally grateful to be on this path and for all the support i have been granted.” celeste, previous trainee
why kin is offering training
we are are experiencing a high demand for the groups we currently offer so we decided to find a way for the work we currently do at kin to reach beyond our forest walls so that more people, children and adults alike, are able to benefit from it. we realised that this would be through enabling other adults, whether through schools or independently, to offer their own provisions. we have been lucky enough to meet facilitators and organisations who are aligned with kin to offer these trainings in partnership with and make this vision possible.
